Apparatus for mixing materials in canning factories.



PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908.

R. J. DICKINSON; APPARATUS POII'MIXING MATERIALS IN GANNING PAGT'ORIES.

APPLICATION FILED 28,1906.

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RICHARD JAY DICKINSON, OF EUREKA, ILLINOIS APPARATUS FOR MIXING MATERIALS IN CANNING FACTORIES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 30, 1908.

Application filed May 28, 1906. Sen'al No. 319,205.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD J AY DICKIN- soN, citizen of the United States, residing at Eureka, in the county of Woodford and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Mixing Materials in Canning Factories and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

This invention relates to an apparatus for mixing materials in canning factories; pertaining more particularly to an apparatus by Which the proportions of solids, such as corn and the like, and the necessary flavoring syrups can be readily, quickly and accurately measured.

It further pertains to an apparatus by which the solids and syrups when measured can be combined at once and thoroughly mixed and kept of uniform consistency throughout ready for filling into the cans or packages. Having the above objects in view'I shall proceed with the description of the drawing which is provided to ma e the invention fully understood.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the entire apparatus, parts of which are shown in section. Fig. 2 is a plan of a syrup measuring vessel. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of a mixing tank on line X X Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail of a clamping device.

It is the practice in canning factories to deposit an unmeasured amount of the corn, or other solid substance to be canned, into a mixing tank or vessel and at the same time add to it an unmeasured quantity of a desired flavoring fluid, but by this method the operator has no knowledge of the proportions of the solids and flavoring fluid or syrup so that the mixture is hardly ever found to be of the proper consistency and it is, therefore, practically impossible to obtain two lots of material of a like consistency.

It is my purpose in view of the above to provide an apparatus by which the quantities of solids and flavoring syrups can be exactly measured and that the consistency of all the materials canned will be uniform. To the end that this object may be accomplished I provide a mixing vessel A of the desired capacity which has an upper and lower compartment separated by a diaphragm B. The vessel is preferably let down through the floor so that the upper compartment will be above the same and, therefore, can be conveniently reached.

Erected within the vessel is a vertical shaft C provided with a series of arms at various points to serve as a rake by which the material being treated can be kept in constant motion and thoroughly mixed. Said shaft extends through the bottom of the lower compartment and is provided with suitable gearing for driving it, there being a stufling box as at E to prevent leakage. In the diaphragm B are holes F'beneath which is a gate or slide G, Fig. 3, having holes H therein to register with said holes F. Said gate is operated from a position outside the vessel by means of a lever J by which the holes F may be opened when desired so that the contents of the upper compartment may be discharged into the lower one.

Connected into the lower compartment through the bottom of the vessel A is a pipe K through which, by means of a pump L, the material contained in the lower compartment may be withdrawn and pumped into the cans, and above the vessel A and overhanging the upper compartment, so as to discharge thereinto, is a spout A for introducing the solid material into said upper compartment.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I illustrate a vessel M and accessories, all without novelty herein claimed, having a pipe N connected into its bottom by which fluid may be conducted therefrom into the vessel A, there being a valve 0 in said pipe by which the flow of fluid may be controlled. Extending up through the bottom of the said vessel M is a short length of pipe P vertically shiftable Within a stuffing box Q so arranged that the upper open end of said pipe within the ves sel may be placed at any desired height.

Clamped to the lower end of the pipe outside the vessel is a rod R whose upper end corresponds in height to that of the inner upper end of the pipeas shown in Fig. 1, said rod acting in the capacity of a pointer upon a graduated scale S on the side of the vessel for indicating the volume of fluid held in the latter. I also provide means for securing the pipe P and its arm R in any fixed adjustment and to this end I employ a member T shown in Fig. 4, which is secured to the bottom of the vessel M, the said arm R extend ing vertically through the member and in which it is clamped by means of a screw U. Above and overhanging the vessel M is a supply pipe V having a valve V and through this the fluid, previously prepared in bulk, is entered to the said vessel.

The manner of using the apparatus is as follows :In mixing corn to be canned, the gate G is closed and the operator opens the valve 0 in the pipe N permitting the fluid previously measured in the vessel M to pass into the upper compartment of the vessel A, the corn is then added through the spout A and kept stirred by the revolving shaft 0 and its arms D. The quantity of fluid placed in the upper compartment bears such a relation to the total capacity thereof that by the addition of corn to completely fill said compartment the proper mixture is produced. To a practiced person thoroughly familiar with corn or other products to be canned, the proper amount of flavoring fluid or syrup necessary for a IGqtllIGCl mixture can be judged; that person eing able to determine what amount of the fluid or syrup is necessary for a certain run of corn, whether it be a dry or a particularly milky variety. By the use of the vessel M he is able to measure the required quantity and after having done so an attendant may readily carry on the mixing operation and obtain the same result every time.

It is the purpose in providing a mixing apparatus of this kind that the judgment of the operator shall not be called upon in proportioning the flavoring fluid or syrup. It is rather the duty of some experienced person at the head of the institution to adjust and set the pipe P in the vessel M so that the desired amount of fluid held in the vessel shall be proper for the work then in hand.

.The responsibility is, therefore, removed from the operator whose work is merely mechanical since after the vessel is set to measure a certain amount he has but to merely fill the vessel M and empty it into the vessel A whenever the latter is to be charged.

After the mixture is made in the vessel A as above described, the gate G is opened to permit it to enter the lower compartment wherein it is still kept in constant agitation while being removed little by little by the pump into the cans for sealing. The lower compartment is kept as tightly closed as possible so that the air cannot cause a chemical change and thus spoil the goods. In order, however, to permit the escape of air at the time of filling said lower compartment and rial to also to admit sufficient air to permit the material to be pumped out, a small pipe is provided in the diaphragm B which extends above the highest level the material will reach in the upper compartment. This, however, may be at the outside of the vessel if desired. The fluid in the vessel M is measured automatically in the sense that when it has reached the upper open end of the pipe P any surplus will overflow through said pipe P and the operator upon observing the over flow has but to close the valve V and the excess of fluid escaping through the pipe P can be returned if desired to the original source.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:-

1. In a mixing apparatus of the class described, a receptacle having an upper and lower compartment, a gate governing communication between said compartments, a stirring device operating in both said compartments, means for admitting a predetermined amount of liquid in said upper compartment, means for at will operatin said gate and means for disch. rging material from the lower of said compartments.

2. In a mixing a paratus of the class described, a receptacl e having an upper and lower compartment, a gate governing communication between said compartments, a stirring device operating in both said compartments, means for admitting a predetermined amount of liquid in said upper compartment, means for at will operating said gate, and means for compelling the material to pass through the discharge opening of the lower compartment.

3. In a mixing a paratus of the class described, a receptacle having an upper and 'lower compartment, a gate governing communication between said compartments, a rotary stirring device operating in both said compartments, means for rotating the stirring devices, means for admitting a predetermined amount of liquid in said upper compartment, means for at will operating the gate, and means for compelling the mateass through the discharge opening of said ower compartment.

4. In a mixing a paratus of the class described, a receptac e having an upper and a lower compartment, a gate governing communication between said compartments, a rotary stirring device operating in both said compartments, means for admitting a predetermined amount of liquid in said upper compartment, means for at will operating the gate, and a pump operating by suction to withdraw material from the lower of said compartments.

5. In a mixing apparatus of the class described, a receptacle having an upper and a lower compartment, a gate governing communication between said compartments, a the same whereby cans may be filled With the rotary stirring device 0 erating in both said said material. 10 compartments, means tor admitting a pre- In testimony whereof I affix my signature, determined amount of liquid in said upper in presence of two witnesses.

compartment, means for at will operating RICHARD JAY DICKINSON.

the gate, and a suction and force pump ar- Witnesses:

ranged to withdraw material from the lower E. B. DICKINSON,

of said compartments and forcibly deliver 0. E. BROOKS. 

